Neil Warnock baffled by Anthony Pilkington’s decision to reject loan move after he was excluded from Premier League squad

Neil Warnock says Anthony Pilkington rejected the chance to go out on loan during the summer.

The Bluebirds boss has revealed that Anthony Pilkington rejected the chance to join a Championship club before the loan window closed.

Warnock says he “can’t understand” why the long-serving Bluebirds winger hasn’t taken the opportunity to go out and play first-team football.

Pilkington wasn’t included in Cardiff City’s 25-man Premier League squad and the Bluebirds’ early exit from the Carabao Cup means the winger won’t play a minute of senior football until at least January.

Despite that, Pilkington opted to remain in South Wales. Warnock revealed: “Pilks had options to go into the Championship, but he declined the offer.

“I can’t understand why, if you’re not in the squad, why you wouldn’t go and play. I’ll never understand it, but it never surprises me in football. There’s always something that surprises me.

Lee Tomlin is another player who remains locked out of the Cardiff City 25-man squad and he too will have to make do with under-23 fixtures. Warnock added: “They are playing at Coventry today in the under-23s. That’s all we can do. They will train with us. I have no problem with them.”

Tomlin was linked with a return to Nottingham Forest on loan during the transfer window, but nothing materialised.